Annual birth rate and peak birth month in Iceland
Iceland: Annual birth rate and peak birth month was 11.5 births per 1,000 people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
11.5 births per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 4.2%
World rank
4th
of 41 countries
All-time high
42.72 births per 1,000 people
in 1858
All-time low
11.5 births per 1,000 people
in 2023
Years of data
186
1838–2023
Annual birth rate and peak birth month in Iceland, 1838–2023
Source: Human Mortality Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per 1,000 people.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 11.5 births per 1,000 people for annual birth rate and peak birth month in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 186 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual birth rate and peak birth month in Iceland peaked at 42.72 births per 1,000 people in 1858 and was at its lowest, 11.5 births per 1,000 people, in 2023.
Iceland ranks 4th of 41 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 186 years of available data.
Annual birth rate and peak birth month in Iceland, year by year
| Year | births per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1838 | 32.59 births per 1,000 people | — |
| 1839 | 32.35 births per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1840 | 35.21 births per 1,000 people | +8.8% |
| 1841 | 37.07 births per 1,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1842 | 36.55 births per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1843 | 34.18 births per 1,000 people | -6.5% |
| 1844 | 33.42 births per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1845 | 35.31 births per 1,000 people | +5.7% |
| 1846 | 35.31 births per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 33.44 births per 1,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1848 | 36.86 births per 1,000 people | +10.2% |
| 1849 | 36.4 births per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 1850 | 38.3 births per 1,000 people | +5.2% |
| 1851 | 38.21 births per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1852 | 39.1 births per 1,000 people | +2.3% |
| 1853 | 40.04 births per 1,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1854 | 39.26 births per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1855 | 38.04 births per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 1856 | 37.25 births per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1857 | 40.46 births per 1,000 people | +8.6% |
| 1858 | 42.72 births per 1,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1859 | 38.4 births per 1,000 people | -10.1% |
| 1860 | 35.28 births per 1,000 people | -8.1% |
| 1861 | 36.6 births per 1,000 people | +3.7% |
| 1862 | 38.89 births per 1,000 people | +6.3% |
| 1863 | 38.21 births per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1864 | 39.64 births per 1,000 people | +3.7% |
| 1865 | 39.07 births per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1866 | 37.51 births per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 1867 | 39.05 births per 1,000 people | +4.1% |
| 1868 | 34.24 births per 1,000 people | -12.3% |
| 1869 | 30.4 births per 1,000 people | -11.2% |
| 1870 | 31.52 births per 1,000 people | +3.7% |
| 1871 | 31.34 births per 1,000 people | -0.6% |
| 1872 | 31.19 births per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1873 | 33.8 births per 1,000 people | +8.4% |
| 1874 | 32.13 births per 1,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1875 | 32.11 births per 1,000 people | -0.0% |
| 1876 | 33.1 births per 1,000 people | +3.1% |
| 1877 | 30.8 births per 1,000 people | -6.9% |
| 1878 | 33.02 births per 1,000 people | +7.2% |
| 1879 | 31.24 births per 1,000 people | -5.4% |
| 1880 | 31.5 births per 1,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1881 | 32.01 births per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1882 | 31.46 births per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1883 | 29.36 births per 1,000 people | -6.7% |
| 1884 | 32.78 births per 1,000 people | +11.6% |
| 1885 | 31.52 births per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 1886 | 29.58 births per 1,000 people | -6.1% |
| 1887 | 27.71 births per 1,000 people | -6.3% |
| 1888 | 27.09 births per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1889 | 31.08 births per 1,000 people | +14.7% |
| 1890 | 31.02 births per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1891 | 33.42 births per 1,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1892 | 31.63 births per 1,000 people | -5.4% |
| 1893 | 31.93 births per 1,000 people | +1.0% |
| 1894 | 29.74 births per 1,000 people | -6.8% |
| 1895 | 33.85 births per 1,000 people | +13.8% |
| 1896 | 31.58 births per 1,000 people | -6.7% |
| 1897 | 31.47 births per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 1898 | 29.9 births per 1,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1899 | 29.07 births per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 1900 | 28.7 births per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1901 | 27.87 births per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1902 | 28.23 births per 1,000 people | +1.3% |
| 1903 | 28.35 births per 1,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1904 | 28.81 births per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1905 | 28.26 births per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1906 | 28.97 births per 1,000 people | +2.5% |
| 1907 | 28.08 births per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 1908 | 27.38 births per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1909 | 27.32 births per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1910 | 25.67 births per 1,000 people | -6.0% |
| 1911 | 25.88 births per 1,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1912 | 26.08 births per 1,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1913 | 25.74 births per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1914 | 26.84 births per 1,000 people | +4.3% |
| 1915 | 27.78 births per 1,000 people | +3.5% |
| 1916 | 26.7 births per 1,000 people | -3.9% |
| 1917 | 27.03 births per 1,000 people | +1.2% |
| 1918 | 26.72 births per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 1919 | 25.48 births per 1,000 people | -4.6% |
| 1920 | 28.28 births per 1,000 people | +11.0% |
| 1921 | 27.55 births per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1922 | 26.76 births per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 1923 | 27.12 births per 1,000 people | +1.3% |
| 1924 | 25.86 births per 1,000 people | -4.6% |
| 1925 | 25.95 births per 1,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1926 | 26.75 births per 1,000 people | +3.1% |
| 1927 | 25.98 births per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1928 | 24.6 births per 1,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1929 | 25.22 births per 1,000 people | +2.5% |
| 1930 | 26.39 births per 1,000 people | +4.7% |
| 1931 | 25.81 births per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1932 | 24.55 births per 1,000 people | -4.9% |
| 1933 | 22.7 births per 1,000 people | -7.5% |
| 1934 | 22.92 births per 1,000 people | +1.0% |
| 1935 | 22.24 births per 1,000 people | -3.0% |
| 1936 | 22.07 births per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1937 | 20.51 births per 1,000 people | -7.1% |
| 1938 | 20.18 births per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1939 | 19.88 births per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1940 | 20.62 births per 1,000 people | +3.7% |
| 1941 | 21.67 births per 1,000 people | +5.1% |
| 1942 | 24.55 births per 1,000 people | +13.3% |
| 1943 | 25.59 births per 1,000 people | +4.2% |
| 1944 | 25.5 births per 1,000 people | -0.3% |
| 1945 | 26.87 births per 1,000 people | +5.4% |
| 1946 | 26.34 births per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1947 | 27.92 births per 1,000 people | +6.0% |
| 1948 | 28.11 births per 1,000 people | +0.7% |
| 1949 | 28.05 births per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1950 | 29.02 births per 1,000 people | +3.5% |
| 1951 | 27.72 births per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1952 | 27.81 births per 1,000 people | +0.3% |
| 1953 | 28.56 births per 1,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 28.07 births per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1955 | 28.88 births per 1,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1956 | 28.87 births per 1,000 people | -0.0% |
| 1957 | 29.05 births per 1,000 people | +0.6% |
| 1958 | 27.83 births per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
| 1959 | 28.43 births per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 28.29 births per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1961 | 25.74 births per 1,000 people | -9.0% |
| 1962 | 26.07 births per 1,000 people | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 26.19 births per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 25.54 births per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1965 | 24.76 births per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 24.21 births per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 1967 | 22.34 births per 1,000 people | -7.7% |
| 1968 | 21.11 births per 1,000 people | -5.5% |
| 1969 | 20.82 births per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 19.73 births per 1,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1971 | 20.88 births per 1,000 people | +5.8% |
| 1972 | 22.55 births per 1,000 people | +8.0% |
| 1973 | 21.8 births per 1,000 people | -3.3% |
| 1974 | 20.01 births per 1,000 people | -8.2% |
| 1975 | 20.23 births per 1,000 people | +1.1% |
| 1976 | 19.57 births per 1,000 people | -3.3% |
| 1977 | 18.08 births per 1,000 people | -7.6% |
| 1978 | 18.7 births per 1,000 people | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 19.93 births per 1,000 people | +6.6% |
| 1980 | 19.95 births per 1,000 people | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 18.95 births per 1,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1982 | 18.68 births per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 18.56 births per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 17.25 births per 1,000 people | -7.0% |
| 1985 | 16.03 births per 1,000 people | -7.1% |
| 1986 | 16.02 births per 1,000 people | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 17.17 births per 1,000 people | +7.2% |
| 1988 | 18.88 births per 1,000 people | +9.9% |
| 1989 | 18.1 births per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1990 | 18.79 births per 1,000 people | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 17.72 births per 1,000 people | -5.7% |
| 1992 | 17.75 births per 1,000 people | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 17.62 births per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 16.76 births per 1,000 people | -4.9% |
| 1995 | 16.03 births per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1996 | 16.16 births per 1,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 15.38 births per 1,000 people | -4.8% |
| 1998 | 15.34 births per 1,000 people | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 14.87 births per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 15.46 births per 1,000 people | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 14.44 births per 1,000 people | -6.6% |
| 2002 | 14.13 births per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 14.36 births per 1,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 14.57 births per 1,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 14.58 births per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 14.72 births per 1,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 14.82 births per 1,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 15.33 births per 1,000 people | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 15.74 births per 1,000 people | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 15.45 births per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 14.35 births per 1,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2012 | 14.42 births per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 13.65 births per 1,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 13.63 births per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 12.71 births per 1,000 people | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 12.35 births per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 12.21 births per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 12.31 births per 1,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 12.7 births per 1,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 12.72 births per 1,000 people | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 13.59 births per 1,000 people | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 12.01 births per 1,000 people | -11.6% |
| 2023 | 11.5 births per 1,000 people | -4.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 11.5 births per 1,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.31 births per 1,000 people, 1.2× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 11.5 births per 1,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 9.33 births per 1,000 people, 1.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 32.47 births per 1,000 people | 32.35 births per 1,000 people | 32.59 births per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1840s | 35.37 births per 1,000 people | 33.42 births per 1,000 people | 37.07 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 39.18 births per 1,000 people | 37.25 births per 1,000 people | 42.72 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 36.89 births per 1,000 people | 30.4 births per 1,000 people | 39.64 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 32.03 births per 1,000 people | 30.8 births per 1,000 people | 33.8 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 30.41 births per 1,000 people | 27.09 births per 1,000 people | 32.78 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 31.36 births per 1,000 people | 29.07 births per 1,000 people | 33.85 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 28.2 births per 1,000 people | 27.32 births per 1,000 people | 28.97 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 26.39 births per 1,000 people | 25.48 births per 1,000 people | 27.78 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 26.41 births per 1,000 people | 24.6 births per 1,000 people | 28.28 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 22.72 births per 1,000 people | 19.88 births per 1,000 people | 26.39 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 25.52 births per 1,000 people | 20.62 births per 1,000 people | 28.11 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 28.42 births per 1,000 people | 27.72 births per 1,000 people | 29.05 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 24.51 births per 1,000 people | 20.82 births per 1,000 people | 28.29 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.15 births per 1,000 people | 18.08 births per 1,000 people | 22.55 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.96 births per 1,000 people | 16.02 births per 1,000 people | 19.95 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.64 births per 1,000 people | 14.87 births per 1,000 people | 18.79 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.81 births per 1,000 people | 14.13 births per 1,000 people | 15.74 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.38 births per 1,000 people | 12.21 births per 1,000 people | 15.45 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.46 births per 1,000 people | 11.5 births per 1,000 people | 13.59 births per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More population data for Iceland
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2688 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.08 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 13,661 people (2100)
- Population density 3.6 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6617 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4806 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual birth rate and peak birth month in Iceland?
- Annual birth rate and peak birth month in Iceland was 11.5 births per 1,000 people in 2023, according to Human Mortality Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual birth rate and peak birth month recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 42.72 births per 1,000 people in 1858.
- What is the lowest annual birth rate and peak birth month recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5 births per 1,000 people in 2023.
- How does Iceland rank for annual birth rate and peak birth month?
- Iceland ranks 4th out of 41 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual birth rate and peak birth month rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Human Mortality Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual birth rate and peak birth month. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of births per 1,000 people in a given year.